tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15980401443226962172024-03-13T04:40:18.813+01:00Norwegian ExpeditionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-91975946740371530742018-09-12T14:29:00.000+02:002018-09-12T15:26:30.084+02:00A Last Minute Trip to Melaka Malaysia
September is the month of holidays in Malaysia. Three straight weekends of holidays here. This weekend had two holidays tacked on for the kids. Initially we hadn't planned anything, but on Saturday morning Janet and I decided to book a couple of nights in Melaka, a city 150km from Kuala Lumpur.
Here is our travel log.
Sunday afternoon we packed the car and drove down. On the way down Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-41129126919457015152014-09-06T18:30:00.001+02:002014-09-06T18:30:51.196+02:00A World Champion ExperienceWhen I heard that the mountain bike world championships were going to be in Norway I really wanted to go. However, like the Birkbeinerittet race last weekend I hadn't planned on attending because Nora was expected to come sometime in September. Thanks to Nora's early arrival I have had two awesome weekends. This weekend was a dad/kids weekend.
We started driving up Friday night. About Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-6039923141394917842014-08-07T20:39:00.000+02:002014-08-07T20:39:08.632+02:00Spring Break in ItalyOver spring break we went to Italy. We flew into Treviso, drove to Florence, stayed 4 nights, toured Tuscany, returned north to Venice and enjoyed the rest our time there. It was an awesome trip and the kids were great. I loved being back there and using my Italian. Though a bit rusty I did well, I understood and everyone understood me. We flew on Ryan Air round trip with 5 for $320. The cattle Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-13938572583894310342014-04-06T08:28:00.000+02:002014-04-06T08:28:22.821+02:00A Challenging and Busy WinterIt has been 5 months since I've posted up on the blog. I think it was partly the dark that sucked out my energy as well as a constant stream of sick and exhausted kids and adults that also contributed to my silence. This morning however, I am finally motivated to write.
Here is a quick recap of winter. It has been weird and mild. At the beginning of December we got our first snow and Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-80842095064501278652013-10-28T21:32:00.002+01:002013-10-28T21:32:16.566+01:00Fall In Norway
Fall Shots of Norway
Trick or Treating at the Embassy
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-61972482464786932502013-10-17T21:58:00.003+02:002013-10-17T22:04:04.894+02:00My journey to see the Northern LightsI have always wanted to see the Northern Lights. On Tuesday when I was in a meeting here in Iceland, the Ambassador asked if anyone had seen the Northern Lights the night before in Reykjavik. Apparently they had been showing up in the city. I was disappointed to have missed them.
On Wednesday I signed up for a Northern Lights tour. At 7:30pm a shuttle picked me up and took me to a bus. In three Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-15996826519924474972013-10-13T22:48:00.003+02:002013-10-16T09:28:09.183+02:00A Partial Guide to Being an American Diplomat in Norway
The other day I was talking with someone who is coming to Oslo with the State Department. During our conversation I realized there are so many unknowns about going overseas and that can be really stressful. Over the last year I've been able to figure a lot out. Here is my guidance to someone coming to Norway with the State Department.
Medical Insurance
As diplomats we aren't part of the Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-29941370695182832272013-09-04T09:27:00.000+02:002013-10-16T09:43:00.127+02:00Hunderfossen Family Park
On race day, the kids and I waved goodbye to Cameron and, in spite of a rainy forecast, headed for the Hunderfossen theme park. The rain kept the crowds away and we had a fun day in spite of the weather.
The Jeeps were a popular ride for us because it was one of the few that Lucy could go on.
Trying out the remote controlled cars.
Digging for fossils
It's tough Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08017098515209550498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-13434558006278950052013-09-03T21:57:00.001+02:002013-10-16T09:26:16.397+02:00Racing The BirkebienerrittetOn Saturday I competed against approximately 17,000 other mountain bikers at the Birkebeinerrittet. I wrote about my preparation in my previous post Preparing For Birkebeinerrittet.
Our Race Accommodations
We decided to make a vacation around the race. So on Thursday we packed the van and headed for Lillehammer. We stayed in a cabin that felt like a miniature version of our house Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-64761558047137436082013-09-03T19:48:00.000+02:002013-10-16T09:25:49.722+02:00Summer Photo Dump
Now that Maddie is back to school and James and Lucy are spending a few hours a day at barnepark, it's time to give an update on our summer. We had Aunt Rissie here to visit for a good part of the summer. She ended up taking most of the pictures of our adventures, so if you want to see all that we did check out her tumblr: www.rissiegrace.tumblr.com. July was a fun busy month that included a Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08017098515209550498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-43509901142044375692013-07-29T22:38:00.000+02:002013-10-16T09:25:01.051+02:00Back In Time - A Bike Accident - May 2005I just read a blog post about someone's experience being hit by a car while riding a bike. The post was so familiar that I wanted to share my own experience.
May 28th 2005
On May 28th 2005 I went out for a bike ride in Provo, Utah, and ended with a life changing experience. The day was perfect, the sun was shining, the humidity was low and temperatures were in the 70s. From my apartment Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-87831379641085685952013-07-20T14:57:00.001+02:002013-10-16T09:24:29.168+02:00Preparing for the BirkebeinerrittetAt the end of August I am doing a 94 km mountain bike race called the Birkebeinerrittet. It is the first race I will have done in several years and I look forward to it. It is the largest mountain bike race in the world and is an important symbol of Norwegian history.
History of the Birkebeinar
The Birkebein Party or Birkebeinar (Old Norse: Birkibeinar; Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-13578057713321490222013-07-07T23:27:00.001+02:002013-10-16T09:23:24.484+02:00A Picture PostMadeline at field day.
Farm animals by the house
Last day of Barnepark.
Lone Ranger.
4th of July
James stuck in a soccer net.
Swimming in a lake.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-80074719210614179532013-06-30T23:53:00.001+02:002022-08-16T09:00:54.837+02:00From A Party to a PanicLast week I was all consumed with the Fourth of July event held annually at the ambassador's residence. My staff and I spent more than a week setting up for a party with 2000 of the embassy's best friends. Set up included more than 30 tents, dozens of tables, hundreds of bottles of soda, beer, wine, 3000 hamburgers, a McDonalds French Fryer, and dozens of deliveries. During the event we cleared Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-43238041679137430742013-06-30T20:58:00.002+02:002013-06-30T20:58:21.294+02:00Summer FunWe are just living life. I realize that I haven't posted any pictures since things have greened up. It is as green as it was white during the winter. We are loving riding bikes, hiking, sticking our toes in the fjords, and jumping on the trampoline.
17 May - Norwegian Constitution Day
17 May is Norway's National day. It is a really neat day. Every town it seems holds a parade, everyone Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-6031777140825974742013-05-31T16:54:00.001+02:002013-05-31T19:01:20.696+02:00The Price of Being TardyYesterday the kids were incredibly cute in the morning leading me to hang around a few extra minutes. Combine that with a detour on my ride to work I showed up at the office around 8:15 covered in sweat and road spray. Waiting at the door was my maintenance supervisor. As I walk in winded he tells me I'm late. I ask him for what. He tells me the staff meeting on the second floor. THEN I Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-28720241913874382262013-05-25T14:48:00.000+02:002013-05-25T14:58:40.816+02:00Iceland - The Origin of Journey to the Center of the EarthHow cool is it that my job takes me to Iceland every couple of months. This week was my second trip to Iceland. Just before coming to Norway I wrote a blog post about our Journey to the Center of The Earth. If you've read the book you'll remember that the volcano they enter on their journey was something like 100 km from Reykjavik. So in a sense our journey is not too far off from Jules Verne's &Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-88577556124699928272013-05-02T21:16:00.002+02:002013-05-02T21:16:41.563+02:00Biking Norway Style - It's Awesome!
The Bike Commuter
For a long time I've wanted to be a hardcore bike commuter. When I was still in school I wanted to get a job in downtown Philly and ride in from the suburbs along the Schuylkill River Trail to go to work. Three years ago when we moved to the DC area I was able to basically make it a reality. Since coming to Norway I feel like I've taken it up a notch. I appreciate that I am Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-36065960067081146832013-04-25T21:16:00.000+02:002013-04-25T21:16:03.406+02:00Grocery shopping, Norway style (sort of)
<!--[if gte mso 9]>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]>
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
JA
X-NONE
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-19513867968451029632013-04-06T17:51:00.000+02:002013-04-06T17:51:21.497+02:00Last Two Months of WinterNow into the first week of April there are signs that winter is waining. Day time temperatures are above freezing and night time temps rarely drop below the low 20's. In fact, today was the first time I felt comfortable breaking out the hose and wash bucket to wash the car in the driveway.
With winter coming to a slow close, I figured I'd better highlight some of the fun we've had Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-25553712524131286102013-02-16T17:16:00.000+01:002013-02-16T17:16:10.330+01:00Some Favorite Video ClipsHere are a few fun videos I've come across.
Africa for Norway
I had one of the guards at the embassy introduce me to this video. Yes, I suppose we are struggling and could use some help.
Ben Stiller on Night Mountain Biking
I wrote a blog post last spring about my bike commute and showed off my lights. I sold my mountain bike a couple years ago, but after watching this video I want to Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-29930722159881249362013-01-27T17:30:00.000+01:002013-01-27T17:55:18.523+01:00SleddingYesterday a fresh coat of snow was falling, the temperatures were only in the low 20's and we decided it was a perfect Saturday for sledding. We drove to a really good sledding hill about a mile from the house and quickly discovered the fresh powder and saucer sleds don't mix.
After another frustrating 30 minutes, we piled back into the van and drove directly to the store and picked up theseUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-23196963365344638242013-01-25T22:32:00.000+01:002013-01-26T09:09:34.444+01:00Crossing the Border To Sweden
Last Saturday some friends invited us to drive to Sweden. Basically we were making a cross border excursion to go to some mall that had a huge grocery store. Groceries and meat in particular are much, much cheaper in Sweden than in Norway.
Cruising the A6
To get to Sweden you head south on a highway called the A6. Nothing too special, just a 4 lane divided highway. The country heading Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-46038448882951655822013-01-25T16:50:00.003+01:002013-01-25T18:07:28.371+01:00More About Winter ClothesFor some reason winter cloths are just cool...I mean warm...or something like that. It is awesome to be in a place where it really is so important to be dressed right for the weather and for the activity while in Norway. Also I love being able buy nice gear with Janet's approval.
Today I got an email from a collegue about both how to dress kids for the cold and a review of kids snow suits. It Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1598040144322696217.post-25765861693481913792013-01-14T21:50:00.000+01:002013-01-14T21:51:14.946+01:00Barnepark
Today, James went to his first day at Barnepark. Translated,
it means “Children’s Park” and is essentially a preschool in which the only
curriculum is getting as much fresh air and sunshine as possible, sunshine
optional. No matter the weather, the
children are dressed appropriately and play outside on a fenced playground
from 10:00 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon. They go Janethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08017098515209550498noreply@blogger.com